Bishop Brandt to Kmiec: Time to Stop Presenting Your Views As Catholic Teaching!

“That said, we have to be faithful to the church as the church universal exists. And the church universal exists in places other than Scranton. It’s everywhere. Its teaching is timeless.” Douglas Kmiec trying to say Bishop Martino's position on Catholic teaching was wrong. Actually he is wrong as I said in a recent post. & I am not the only 1 to say so.

"As the teacher of authentic Catholic doctrine in the Diocese of Greensburg, I feel compelled to state in view of this situation that Mr. Kmiec distorts Catholic teaching by making it synonymous with his own personal views. There is no “other” Catholic position except the one which appears in authentic Church documents. His misrepresentations of Catholic doctrine do a grave disservice to the Catholic community and far beyond." Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt, JCD, PhD, Diocese of Greenburg from a statement aboout his attempts to get Seton Hill University to stop Kmiec from speaking there. (emphasis mine)

Apparently the University President, Dr. JoAnne Boyle, is avoiding his calls. She is asking for trouble if she doesn't cancel. & from the news reports, the protests on campus have begun. While acknowleding the Bishop's attempts, here is the University's justification (cop-out) for allowing him to speak: "Seton Hill, as a matter of policy, does not endorse or support (Kmiec's) views." They say that in keeping with certain rules, he is only coming on because a campus group invited him, in this case the Democratic club. Then they try & say that this is not different than when Sam Brownback spoke in September. (Obama supporter's speech at Seton Hill draws protest) University officials, I have news for you, it is. Sam Brownback is a Catholic who IS Pro-life, not pro-abortion like Kmiec.

& this isn't Kmiec's only stop. Hopefully other Bishops will have the courage to say "BASTA!" & ban him from speaking.

Anyhow, it is nice to see another Bishop taking his responsibilities seriously. His statement that he is "the teacher of authentic Catholic doctrine in the Diocese of Greensburg" says it all.

Here is the full "Statement by Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt on Oct. 22 speaker at local Catholic university":

October 22, 2008

Yesterday afternoon (October 21) I received word that Seton Hill University had extended an invitation to Mr. Douglas Kmiec to speak on its campus regarding faith and politics. I have attempted in vain to reach the President of Seton Hill, Dr. JoAnne Boyle in this regard, but to no avail.

As the teacher of authentic Catholic doctrine in the Diocese of Greensburg, I feel compelled to state in view of this situation that Mr. Kmiec distorts Catholic teaching by making it synonymous with his own personal views. There is no “other” Catholic position except the one which appears in authentic Church documents. His misrepresentations of Catholic doctrine do a grave disservice to the Catholic community and far beyond.

I seriously question the good judgment of the University administration in allowing him a platform on campus.In their statement Catholics in Political Life of June 2004, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote in this regard:

“The Catholic community and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions.”

Is it any wonder then that not only the demonstrators at the event, but many others as well, consider his presentation an offensive trivialization of the institution's declared Catholic identity!

Signed,

The Most Reverend Lawrence E. Brandt, JCD, PhD

Bishop of Greensburg